Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Avi Loeb on Aliens, Bob Lazar, Wormholes, Consciousness, SpaceX, and Many Worlds

Apr 10, 2021

Avi Loeb, an Israeli-American theoretical physicist renowned for his exploration of interstellar objects and extraterrestrial intelligence, discusses a range of captivating topics. He tackles the skepticism surrounding the study of aliens in academia, emphasizes the need for innovative thinking, and critiques social media's impact on scientific discourse. The conversation also ventures into terraforming Mars, the challenges of cosmic radiation, and the philosophical concepts of meaning and consciousness. Loeb encourages a bold approach to scientific inquiry, urging listeners to embrace the unknown.

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ADVICE

Writing's Purpose

Write to communicate excitement about science, not just to clarify your own thinking.
Inspire others to become scientists by sharing your passion.

ANECDOTE

Black Hole Correlation

Avi Loeb's proposed correlation between black hole mass and galaxy potential well depth was initially rejected.
Junior faculty later proved this correlation, highlighting the resistance to new ideas.

ANECDOTE

Dismissed Ideas

Avi Loeb proposed researching black hole hotspots and gravitational waves, both initially dismissed.
These later became significant discoveries, showcasing the importance of pursuing unconventional ideas.

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YouTube link: https://youtu.be/hTHDCD4MnqY

Abraham "Avi" Loeb is an Israeli-American theoretical physicist who works on astrophysics and cosmology.

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LINKS MENTIONED IN VIDEO: Brian Keating's channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmXH_moPhfkqCk6S3b9RWuw Steve Scully's channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM8_4BUpeNfEWJ-wwdIDJxQ

TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:27 On writing to sharpen one's thinking, and the purpose of Avi's writings 00:04:16 Don't let the repudiation by "experts" deter your ideas 00:11:49 Academia requires other people's evaluation and conformance 00:17:12 How do you allow outré ideas while retaining integrity? 00:18:21 Responding to the Pluto-like rock of Oumuamua theory of Desch and Jackson 00:25:37 Why is investigating aliens considered academically uncouth? 00:29:16 How the discovery of intelligent aliens would change society 00:30:27 How to find alien relics 00:31:53 Privatizing the search for aliens, and Elon Musk 00:34:03 The problems with inhabiting Mars are deeper than Musk thinks 00:35:41 Sean Carole's Many Worlds Interpretation 00:41:14 Are singularities "real"? 00:44:13 Bob Lazar 00:49:35 Cosmic Inflation is not falsifiable 01:00:26 Comparing velocities across different points on a manifold 01:05:56 Testing Wolfram's theory using the lower bound on masses 01:07:42 Eric Weinstein and innovation coming from the outside 01:12:34 Gödel's theorems and a Theory of Everything 01:15:02 Science learning from religion (and falsifying religion) 01:21:35 What is the meaning of life? The question Avi would ask an alien 01:24:29 Living forever. Heaven and hell as psychological phenomenon. 01:26:04 Consciousness, emergence, and free will 01:28:46 Wormholes 01:29:29 Why is the universe "fine tuned" for life? 01:30:37 Wisdom vs Intelligence 01:34:09 Which goal should you follow? 01:36:00 Steve Scully: Infinity of smallness and largeness 01:37:15 Can you interpret data without presuming a theory? 01:40:02 Barfyman: How has aging changed how Avi learns new math / physics? 01:42:25 Learning math when you're over 40 01:43:26 Artificial wisdom vs Artificial intelligence 01:44:11 Brian Keating: Does Avi Loeb dislike the criticism of his ideas, due to his fame? 01:49:47 How to balance work and life if you're extremely productive and work constantly? 01:51:09 Why does Avi do podcasts? 01:53:09 On abnegating social media 01:56:58 Rabbitskywalk3r: Claims of Haim Eshed (former Israeli director of space programs) 01:57:39 On UFO's and Prof. Kevin Knuth's analysis 01:59:36 Getting data on aliens visiting Earth 02:01:09 Amjad Hussain: Panpsychism, proto-consciousness, and aliens living with us

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I just finished (April 2021) a documentary called Better Left Unsaid http://betterleftunsaidfilm.com on the topic of "when does the left go too far?" Visit that site if you'd like to watch it.

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